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Minister Flanagan chairs the Export Trade Council

The impacts of Brexit and future direction of Ireland’s trade policy addressed as Minister Flanagan chairs the Export Trade Council

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan T.D. chaired an Export Trade Council meeting this afternoon at Iveagh House.

The gathering of Ministers, State agencies and private sector representatives focussed on mitigating the impacts of Brexit and the development of a new Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Flanagan said:

“We had very constructive discussions on a range of issues at today’s meeting. The Council provides vital insights and information about the prevailing market conditions and about concerns within our productive sectors.

"Today we received valuable reports on the strategies in place across Government, and through our State agencies to mitigate the negative consequences of Brexit and maximise the opportunities for Ireland. Ireland has shown its capacity to respond to significant economic challenges through a robust export policy.

“The Export Trade Council at home and our State Agencies and Embassies abroad are vital tools for our future economic resilience and security. As we deal with the impact of Brexit and seek to craft a new Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy to guide our efforts over the coming period, it is clear that even deeper coordination across Government and State Agencies and sector-specific coordination with private business will be crucial.

"Intensifying and diversifying Ireland’s global market reach are vital to ensuring our economy’s adaptability and resilience in a dynamic international trading environment. While we considered many of the concerns about Brexit, we also heard about the opportunities being targeted by the difference Departments and State agencies.”

ENDS

Press Office

07 February 2017

Note for Editors:

The Export Trade Council (ETC), which is chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, T.D, was established in 2011 in order to strengthen cooperation and coordination across all Government Departments and State agencies involved in the promotion of trade, tourism and inward investment. It brings together senior Ministers with an economic focus, the heads of the State agencies involved in promoting trade, tourism, investment and education abroad with the support of the Embassy network, and members drawn from the private sector, including IBEC, the Irish Exporters Association and a number of business people with expertise in specific sectoral areas.